Lifting-clamp for plate-glass.



UNITED STATES LOUIS F. DETTENBORN, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

LIFTI NG-CLAMP FOR PLATE-GLASS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 27, 1906.

Application filed June 8, 1904;. Renewed October 15, 1906. Serial No.339.075.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LoUIs F. DETTEN- BORN, a citizen of the -UnitedStates, and a resident of Hartford, in the county of Hartford and Stateof Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inLifting-Clamps for Plate-Glass, of which the following is a full, clear,and exact specifica-v tion.

This invention consists of a clamping device provided with a handle forattachment to heavy plate-glass to enable it to be lifted andtransported with safety. These heavy plates of glass must be carried ina vertical position, and it is very important to have a secure clampthat will not slip and break the glass, since any accident of thischaracter not only causes considerable loss in value, but is liable toinjure the persons carrying the glass.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a side view of this improved lifting device.Fig. 2 is a front view with a part of the handle shown in section on theline 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view showing one of the hubs andone of the adjusting-yokes on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

The device consists of a pair of clamps 11 and 12, the adjacent faces ofwhich are preferably covered with rubber or similar material 13 and 14to lessen the liability to slip.

Each clamp, as 12, is provided on its outer face with a plate 20,provided with a hub 22, into which is fitted one end 28 of the handle26. The handle is U-shaped and consists of a hand portion 26, joiningtwo lever portions 29 and 30, the ends 27 and 28, respectively, of whichare turned toward each other and inserted in the hubs 21 and 22- of theplates 19 and 20. The ends 27 and 28 fit loosely in the hubs 21 and, '22to enable them to swivel easily therein. The plates 19 and 20 havesecured to their outer faces the cams 17 and 18, which are engaged bythe sides of the lever portions 29 and 30 of the handle. Yokes 31 and32, loosely fitting the handle-levers 29 and 30 and secured in place bypins 34 and 35, are joined by the right and left hand screw 33, and thusfurnish means for adjusting the handle-levers 29 and 30 toward and fromeach other, so as to permit the clamps 1 1 and 12 to be readily fittedto glass plates of different thicknesses. The clamps 11 and 12 areconnected by means of springs 36, which tend to draw the clamps apart. Astop 38 is secured to the back edge of one of the clamps to enable thedevice to be readily placed in a suitable position adjacent to the edgeof the glass G and to strengthen somewhat the hold of the clamps uponthe glass. The cams 17 and 18 are so disposed that when the handle 26 isin its lowest position the clamps 11 and 12 are widest open, theinclines of the cams cooperating with the insides of the handle-levers29 and 30 to crowd the clamps together as the handle is raised.

In applying these clamps to a pane of glass the handle is dropped to itslowest position, and, if necessary, the screw 33 is adjusted to suit thethickness of the glass G, the stop 38 being preferably brought intocontact with the edge of the pane. Then by raising the handle 26 in theoperation of lifting the glass the clamps 11 and 12 are tightened uponopposite sides of the pane, the tightness of the clamps being governedby the weight of the glass, so that the heavier the glass the more ittightens the clamps.

All the while the glass is supported by the clamps the weight of itkeeps the clamps closed, and they cannot be removed without setting theglass down or transferring its weight to something else. Then by movingthe handle to the lowest position the clamps are released from theglass.

In using this device the operator need employ only one hand in thelifting, thus leaving his other hand free. This feature is of much valuein transferring glass over uneven ground or in smooth and levelfoothold, such as up and down stairs and along planks and scaifolding inbuildings in the course of construction. The operator may use the freehand to steady himself in various ways, thereby not only making iteasier for him to support the weight of the glass, but greatly lesseningalso the liability ofstumbling or making other accidental missteps whichmight result in injury to either himself or the glass.

The holes in the hubs 21 and 22, which receive the handle ends 27 and28, are enough larger than the handle ends to allow for the variation inthe angle between the holes and the handle ends arising from theadjustment of the handle to different thicknesses of glass.

I claim as my invention -1. A lifter for glass comprising a pair ofclamps for engaging opposite faces of the glass, a handle connecting thetwo clamps, and means operated by the handle, in lifting the glass, forpressing the two clamps toward each other against their respective facesof the glass, the lifting motion of the handle being places where thereis not a on an axis substantially at right angles to the 1 plane of theglass.

2. A lifter for glass comprising a pair of clamps provided with flatsurfaces for engaging the opposite faces of the glass, a handle pivotedto the clamps to swing on an axis substantially-at right angles to theflat surfaces, and means operated by the swinging of the handle forpressing the clamps toward each other against their respective faces ofthe glass.

3. The combination in a lifting device for glass, of a pair of clampsprovided with flat surfaces for engaging the opposite faces of theglass, a handle pivoted to the clamps for swinging movement on an axissubstantially at right angles to the plane of the glass, and a camappurtenant to each clamp and engaging the handle in its swingingmovement,

whereby the clamps are forced toward each other.

4. The combination in a lifting device for glass, of a pair of clampsprovided with flat surfaces for engaging the opposite faces of theglass, a handle pivoted to the clamps for swingingmovement on an axissubstantially at right angles to the plane of the glass, a cam securedto each clamp and engaging the handle in its swinging movement, to forcethe clamps toward each other, and means for adjusting the handle and theplates to different thicknesses of glass.

5. The combination in-a lifting device for glass, of a pair of clampsprovided with flat surfaces for engaging the opposite faces of theglass, a handle pivoted to the clamps for swinging movement on an axissubstantially at right angles to the plane of the glass, a cam securedto each clamp and engaging by the handle in its swinging movement toforce the clamps toward each other, and means to position the clamp withreference to the edge of the pane.

6. The combination in a lifting device for glass, of a pair of clampsprovided with flat surfaces for engaging the opposite faces of the pane,a handle pivoted to the clamps for swinging movement on an axissubstantially at right angles to the plane of the glass, a cam secure toeach clamp. and engaged by the handle in its swinging movement to forcethe clamps toward each other, means for positioning the clamps withreference to the edge of the pane, and a spring device for separatingthe clamps. I

7. The combination in a lifting device for glass, of a pair of clampsprovided with flat surfaces for engaging the opposite faces of theglass, a bifurcated lever-handle having its ends pivoted to the clampsfor swinging movement on an axis substantially at right angles to theplane of the glass, a cam secured to each clamp and engaging the handlein its swinging movement to force the clamps toward each other, and ayoke device including a right and left hand screw for adjusting thehandle and clamps to difi erent thicknesses of lass. b In testimonywhereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

LOUIS F. DETTENBORN.

Witnesses WM. H. HoNiss, Ms. W. GREEN.

